Congratulations! You’re on the road to a graduate degree. But now, you have to search through lots of apartments in Center City Philadelphia and beyond to find the right fit. What should you be looking for when it comes to finding graduate housing that will nurture your educational journey? Here are some things to keep in mind during your housing search.
Amenities
When deciding where you live during your graduate education, you want to make sure that home will feel as comfortable and convenient as possible. Apartments in Center City Philadelphia, University City and Pittsburgh offer ample amenities, but a select few truly cater to graduate and medical students. The Packard Motor Car Building in Philadelphia offers a free morning coffee service for those days when you just don’t have a moment to spare. At The Metropolitan near the Drexel University College of Medicine at Hahnemann and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, you’ll find a pet-washing station on-site removing the need to set up an appointment for Fido to look his best. When evaluating graduate housing options, take into consideration amenities that will make your hectic schedule that much easier so that you can focus more energy on your studies.
On-site Assistance
Find a rental community that offers on-site management and maintenance. If an issue arises, the last thing you want is to have to wait around for someone to address it. Your time as a graduate student is precious and ensuring any issue is managed immediately is key. Look for a community that either has on-site offices that are open seven days a week or offers a quick-response number where someone can be reached 24/7, such as our Shadyside Commons building in Pittsburgh.
24-hour Operating Schedule
The life of a graduate student doesn’t run on a 9 to 5 schedule. When evaluating apartments, ask about the operating schedule. In addition to having on-site, accessible maintenance and management, it’s important for the rental community you select to offer amenities that accommodate 24-hour schedules. The convenience of being able to access your community’s fitness center any time is an excellent perk – especially for medical students in residence. Does the community offer a secure package delivery location? For example, the Old Quaker Building, near Drexel, Penn, and the Wharton School of Business, features a locker package delivery system that allows residents to pick up their packages any time of the day or night. When you’re operating on an erratic schedule, simple conveniences like these can have a huge impact.
Flexible Leasing
Flexible leasing terms are often essential for graduate students. Many graduate programs do not run a full 12-months and you need the flexibility to be able to re-locate when you need. The good news is that many apartments in Center City Philadelphia near colleges and universities offer flexible leasing to students. Be sure to examine all the options before signing a lease for any length of time. As an example, if you sign a lease for 12 months, can you sublet for a few months when your program is not in session or you’re studying abroad? Get all the details and know that many communities will work with you.
If you’re looking at apartments in Center City Philadelphia, University City, or the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, feel free to call us! Reinhold will also be attending the annual housing fairs for Penn and Temple this year. Stop by and learn more about our properties. We look forward to meeting you!